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On the 26th day of Covid-19’s national closure, President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the South Africans for their strength, acknowledged the suffering and reiterated the gravity of the situation, but also sought to inspire hope for a better future.
Addressing the nation on the government’s economic response to the Covid-19 pandemic on Tuesday night, Ramaphosa said the blockade demanded “great strength and resistance” from South Africans and caused much suffering and sacrifice.
“Once again, I greet you and thank you,” he said, looking calm, his voice unbreakable and measured, but the gravity of the situation was etched on his face.
“The coronavirus pandemic has affected their lives and has damaged our economy.”
Read: Ramaphosa announces more relief measures for distressed South Africans
He warned that the severity of the pandemic will continue to have a high cost in the coming weeks and months.
“Medical scientists and our doctors inform us that we are still in the early stages of this pandemic,” he said.
“Without proven therapeutic drugs or a vaccine, we can expect this to continue as a problem for the foreseeable future.”
Ramaphosa acknowledged that the pandemic caused a sudden loss of income for businesses and individuals and deepened poverty and increased hunger.
Financial Aid Program
However, he was adamant that the “urgent and dramatic measures” his government has taken to delay the spread of the virus have been “absolutely necessary.”
“They have given us the space to better respond to the inevitable increase in infections and thereby save tens of thousands of lives.”
“While the national blockade is having a devastating effect on our economy, it is nothing compared to the catastrophic human, social and economic cost if the coronavirus could spread among our people without control.”
Ramaphosa then announced a R500 billion financial aid program.
Also read: The 7 largest interventions in the Ramaphosa R500bn coronavirus support package
“We will do, and we must, do what is necessary to recover from this human, social and economic crisis,” he said.
“Our country and the world we live in will never be the same.”
He said South Africans have opened up to each other in the past month.
“Even at this time, when so much sacrifice is required of us, we look forward to a better future.
“Even when we are in a time of great danger, even when great sacrifices are demanded, even if we dare not allow our vigilance to falter, we look to a better future.
“I have faith in the strength and endurance of ordinary South Africans, who have proven time and time again throughout our history that they can meet the challenge.”
“We will recover. We are going to win. We are going to prosper.”
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